Hecht



April 20, 1954 I M. HECHT 2,675,808 CORN-HUSKING MACHINE HAVING ASUCTION THE HUSKING ROLLS FAN ABOVE :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18,1949 INVENTOR. F740 ra/v flzcwr April 20, 1954 2,675,808

M. HECHT CORN-HUSKING MACHINE HAVING A SUCTION FAN ABOVE THE HUSKINGROLLS Filed Nov. 18, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Apfil 20, 1954.

M. HECHT 2,675,808 CORN-HUSKING MACHINE HAVING A SUCTION FAN ABOVE THEHUSKING ROLLS Filed Nov. 18. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 14/4 701vsc/vr suitable storing hopper.

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 .17..

CORNHUSKING 'MACHINE 'TION FAN ABOVE THE HAVING A SUC- HUSKING ROLLSMilton Hecht, Lakefield, Minn. 7 Application November 18, 1949, SerialNo. 128,130

This invention relates to a corn-husking machine, and more particularlyto an improved machine for removing the husks from the ears ofcorn asthe corn is being conveyed from the snapping rolls of a reaper to theconveyor for disposing the picked corn in a wagon or other It is anobject of this invention to providea com-husking machine of the kind tobe more particularly described hereinafter, which is especiallydesignedto overcome the difliculties encountered with the conventional husking 1bed under dry, adverse-conditions.

Another object of this a corn-husking device of this kind having vacuummeans for disposing of the husks after the husks are removed from theears; The vacuum meansassists the husking rolls in-removing the husksfrom the snapped ears and thereafter removes the husks from the machinethrough an exhaust or discharge outlet pipe. Y

Still another object .of this invention is to provide a novel huskingroll assembly for use with the vacuum husk remover, each of the huskingrolls being formed in a manner to suitably contact the ears of corn forremoving the husks and formed with confronting, spaced-apartvteethproviding a suitable draft passage for the efiicient use andoperation of the vacuum, huskremoving fan.-

A further object of this invention is to pro vide a corn-husking deviceof this kind with a vacuum fan acting in the chamber having the uskingrolls for removing the loose leaves and husks loosened by the spurredaction of. the husking rolls. is provided with a suitable damper toprevent light or chafiy corn from being drawn into the fan andsubsequently lost. Suitable adjusting means is provided for properlyadapting the machine for various field conditions.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and 'thenmore particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a corn-huskingmachine formed gaccording to an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a rear end elevation;

Figure 3 is a detailed top plan view of a pa of husking rolls employedin this machine;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on a pair of huskingro1ls,showing the confronting invention is to provide The intake passageof the 'fan- 3 Claims. (Cl. -5)

disposition of the spur teeth one end of the rolls; Figure 5 is atransverse section taken on the same rolls as Figure; 4, showing theother end in one position of 1 of the rolls in the same position withthe adjacent rolls in substantial engagement;

Figure 6 is a top, 'plan view, partly broken away, of the perforatedfloor of the corn chute; Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed section,taken on the line l'--! of Figure 1, showing the disposition of thedamper in the air passage leading from the cover to the fan; Figure 8 isa sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 1, Figure9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 8,and Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on theline l0lfl of Figure 8. Referring to the drawings, the numeral I 0designates generally a corn-'husking machineconstructed according to anembodiment of this invention for attachment between the snapping rollassembly H and the conveyor l2 which conveys the snapped ears of corn toa wagon, not shown in the drawings, or other suitable hopper or storagefor the husked corn.

The entire assembly of the snapping roll assembly H, thehusking machineIll and the conveyor I2 are suitably supported on a mobile; frame I4having supporting wheels [5 rotatably mounted thereon. The frame II isprovided with a suitable drawbar or' drawbar section ii for connectionto a tractor or other suitable towing vehicle having a power take-ofiassembly for driving connection to the moving parts of the varioussections of thelent-ire assembly or unit ll.

The snapping roll-assembly l I is supported on one side of the frame Itand may be of a generally-conventional arrangement extending downwardlyand forwardly of the frame H. The" rear end of thesnapping roll assemblyis sup ported in a raised positionon the rear end of the frame, andsuitable conveyor means t8 are provided in the spaced-apart members IQfor car- 3 ,rying the snapped corn to the upper rear end of the assemblywhere the ears of corn are suitably deposited to be subsequentlyhuskedand placed in a wagon conventionally assistingthe harvesting ofthe corn.

The snapped corn conveyor His supported on dropped into the wagon. Theconveyor l2 may be of any conventional structure and formation, havin'gthelowerend positioned forwardly on the it has been picked and the timeit is placed in 1 the wagon, not shown in the drawings.

The husking machine H1 is formed with an inclined corn chute l8extending transversely of the frame it between the upper end of thesnapping roll assembly Ii and the lower end of the conveyor l2. The

therethrough in a manner and for the purpose to be more particularlydescribed hereinafter. The side walls 20 of the husking machine extendupwardly from the side edges of the bottom wall I9 and are bowed overabove the bottom wall to define the top wall or the cover 2| spacedabove the perforated bottom wall defining a substantially closed housinghaving openings at the opposite ends of the bottom wall for receivingcornto be'husked and corn after it has been husked.

A plurality of husking rolls 22 are supported in the chute [8 above thebottom wall l9. The rolls 22 are rotatably jour'naled between a pair ofside frame members 24 extending along the length of the bottom wall l9and spaced thereabove. One end of each of the side frame members 24 isadjustably secured on the frame it for selected adjustment in relationto the bottom wall is. A pair of braces or arms 25 are fixed on one endof the frame M and e tend upwardly adjacent the inner side of thesnapping roll assembly II. An outwardly extending arm 26 is fixed n theupper end of each of the side frame members 24 for adjustable engagementwith the respective braces 25. The braces 25 are each formed with aplurality of spaced apart apertures 21 for receiving bolts 28' forsecuring the upper ends of the frame members in a selected position.

The lower ends of the frame members 24 are adjustably supported on themain frame M. A transverse bar 22 is fixed between the lower ends of theframe members opposite ends 29 of which extend outwardly beyond oppositesides of the side bars 24 and are pierced to receive vertical screws 29which are mounted for rotation in the frame M adjacent the conveyor i2.Lower springs 38 are carried by the frame it encircling relation to thescrews 22" beneath'the opposite ends 29 of the bar 28 for cushioning thelower ends of the frame members 26. Upper springs 31 rest on the endextensions 29 and encircle the screws 29' and seated on the upper endsof the springs 3| is a pressure bar 3| carrying adjacent opposite endsinternally threaded bushings 29a which threadedly engage the screws 29'.Crank handles 34 are engaged on the upper end of the screw 29' forrotating the screw 29 and thereby vertically adjustingthe pressure bar3| and thereby moving the lower end of the roller supporting framemembers 24 to selected positions against the effort of the springs 32,and 3|.

The husking rolls 22 are positioned transversely of the corn chute l8for engaging the corn positioned between the rolls 22 and bottom walll9. Each of the rolls 22 end for engagement has a gear 35 fixed-on onewith a similar gear. 35,

4 on an adjacent roll for unitary, timed rotation of all of the rolls. Adrive shaft 36 is rotatably carried by the frame It for attachment to apower take-off of a towing tractor or other suitable power means. Asprocket 31 is driven by the shaft 36 and is engaged by a chain orflexible member 38. Another sprocket 39 is fixed on a shaft 40 of one ofthe husking rolls 22 and also engages the flexible member 38 forrotating the rolls 22 upon rotation of the drive shaft 35.

While the inclination of the corn chute may be .sufificient for movingthe snapped ears of corn bottom wall l9 of the chute I8 is perforated topermit the free passage of air.

downwardly by gravity to the unloading conveyor l2, Iemploy a suitableconveyor 4! having transversely extending longitudinally spaced flights41' moving along the bottom wall l9 below the rolls 22 for moving theears of corn between the side walls 20. The conveyor ll is driven by asuitable chain or drive connection 42 connected to the driving means 36for rotating the rolls 22. While the driving means for the corn huskingmachine is shown in the drawings as including separate drive shaftelements connected together by suitable universal joints, it isunderstood that a single straight shaft or other conventional drivingmeans may be employed to suit the particular frame on which the devicemay be mounted.

The chute between the snapping roll assembly H and the dischargeconveyor I2 is noted in the drawings as declining and this angle may bechanged to a horizontal or upwardly inclined position, the angle beingdependent upon the particular corn-huskingmachine ll being used.

The rolls 22 are adapted to engage the corn on the upper side and arerotated in a manner to pull the leaves upwardly between pairs ofrollers. For removing the husksfrom the corn chute l8, a vacuum fan orblower 44 is connected to the upper portion of the casing 20;

A suitable fan inlet tubing or conduit 45 is connected to the upper endof thetop wall 2| and communicates with the interior of the chute l8 atone end and the inlet side of the blower M at the other end. A properdischarge conduit or pipe 46 extends from th exhaust side of the blower44 rearwardly of the frame l4 for discharging the corn husks from themachine ID. as it is pulled through a corn field.

In order to provide for the proper air flow through the husking machineIll, the rolls 22 are The husking rolls 22 of this machine II] are-disposed in abutting pairs, rotating upwardly at their abutting edgesand formed with cutout sections confronting the adjacent roll to permitthe free flow of air as effected by the blower 44. All of the hllSkiIlgrolls 22 are formed in the same manner, so a detailed description of onewill suitably apply to each of the others.

The husking roll 22 is generally cylindrical in configuration, beingmade of metal, wood or other I suitable material. One half 48 of thelength of the cylindrical roll body A? is formed as a semicylindricalsolid body having a plurality of semicylindrical, longitudinally spacedapart members {89 on the other side thereof, as clearly'shown in Figure3 of the drawings. The spaced apart members 49 are formed with radiallyarranged spur teeth so. The other end of the cylindrical body: 41 isformed in exactly the same manner as the portiondescribed 'above'w-i-ththe solidportion 48% disposed in alignment with the members 49, on theother end. Spaced apart, spur-toothed;

members 50a are formed on the other side of the solid body portion 48ain longitudinal alignment With said body portion 48 of the other end ofthe same roll.

As the rolls 22 are disposed in pairs, each pair of rolls 22 arepositioned and timed in rotation, whereby the spaced spur members of oneroll will confront the spaced spur members of the other roll during thetimed rotation, and the solid body portions will abut. The spur membersof one roll of each pair are transversely aligned with the spur membersof the abutting, confronting roll, so that the confronting spur teethwill engage at their tips durin the operation of the machine and thespaces between the spur members will provide for the free flow of airupwardly throughthe apertured bottom wall l9, between the husking rolls,through the conduit 45, the blower 44 and out the discharge conduit 46.

A pulley or sprocket 5| is rotated by the drive shaft 36 and engages abelt 52. The belt 52 is also trained about the pulley 54 which is fixedon the rotatable shaft 55 which carries the fan blades.

In order to prevent the blower 44 from discharging light corn from themachine l1 along with the corn husks, a suitable damper 56 is rockablymounted in the blower inlet conduit 45. A suitable adjusting crank orscrew 5! is engaged through the conduit 45 and is connected to thedamper for varying the size of the opening through the conduit.

In the use and operation of the corn-husking machine II, the snappinroll II and conveyor 12 may be driven or actuated in any conventionalmanner. As the ears of corn are moved down the corn chute [8 between thehusking rolls 22 and the apertured wall IS, the rolls will strip thehusks from the corn and the suction in the corn chute l8 will dischargethe husks out through the discharge port or conduit 46.

The shakers, shaker screens and shell corn augers in use on conventionalstyles of husking beds currently in use are dispensed with in thestructure, use and operation of this machine, as such elements are notrequired.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe I appended claims.

I claim:

1. A com husking machine comprising a foraminous surface along whichharvested corn ears move in a path in a single layer, husking rollsmounted above said surface for rotation in juxtaposed relation aboutaxes extending transversely of the path to strip the husks from the cornears supported by said surface, a hood carried by the surface andextending upwardly therefrom and over the husking rolls, and meanscarried by the hood and communicating with the interior thereof forcreating a draught of air upwardly through said surface and between thehusking rolls and removing from the husking 6 l rolls husks strippedfrom corn ears moving along the surface.

2. A corn husking machine comprising a foraminous surface along whichharvested corn ears are advanced in a single layer, a frame mountedadjacent one end of the surface to move in a vertical arcuate path abovethe surface, adjustable means mounted adjacent the opposite end of thesurface and engaging the frame for yieldingly supporting it at aselected position above the surface and movement in the vertical arcuatepath, husking rolls carried by the frame for rotation in juxtaposedrelation about axes which extend transversely across the frame, a hoodcarried by the surface and extending upwardly therefrom and over thehusking rolls, and means carried by the hood and communicating with theinterior thereof for creating a draught of air upwardly through thesurface and between the husking rolls and removing from the huskingrolls husks torn from corn ears moving along the surface.

3. A corn husking machine comprising an upwardly inclined foraminoussurface down which harvested corn ears are adapted to ad- Vance in asingle layer, a frame mounted adja cent the upper end of the surface tomove in a vertical arcuate path above the surface, adjustable meansmounted adjacent the lower end of the surface and engaging the frame foryieldingly supporting it at a selected position above the surface formovement in the vertical arcuate path, husking rolls carried by theframe for rotation in juxtaposed relation about parallel axes whichextend transversely across the frame, a hood carried by the surface andextending upwardly therefrom and over the husking rolls, and meanscarried by the hood and communicating with the interior thereof abovethe husking rolls for creating a draught of air upwardly through thesurface and between the husking rolls and removing husks torn from cornears advancing along the surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 4,388 Aspinwall May 23, 1871 144,590 Aspinwall Nov. 18, 1873224,588 Farwell Feb. 17, 1880 484,808 Morral Oct. 25, 1892 584,889Packer June 22, 1897 707,013 Richards Aug. 12, 1902 718,462 IelfieldJan. 13, 1903 770,639 Hidy Sept. 20, 1904 1,226,718 Stone May 22, 19171,898,757 Bockmann Feb. 21, 1933 2,100,137 Groves Nov. 23, 19372,217,945 Digre Oct. 15, 1940 2,431,016 Andrews Nov. 18, 1947 2,443,031Gerber June 8, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 629,943 GreatBritain Sept. 30, 1949

